Laundry machine



Feb. 11, 1941. J, R Y

' LAUNDRY MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 JAME5 B. KIBY Original Filed May 2,1927 Fb. 11, 1941. .1. B.'KiRBY umm MACHIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled May 2, 1927 00000000 000 0000 0 0000.00 0 0000 0 I I PW MI I IW II I IWWWI 6 2 5 .m n E K E w m. v m sn 0 r i W m F .J g 1 [2 .QN E a.

J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Feb. 11, 1941.

ori inzil 'File May 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

JAMzs B. Ku ReY [BEER-[FF B MM/f H ar'zze 5 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 uiTEoSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,231,189 LAUNDRY MACHINE Application May 2, 1927,Serial No. 188,332

Renewed October 2'1, 1931 7 Claims.

This invention relates to' laundry'machines and has for its object theprovision of a combined washing and extracting machine of simple andcompact construction, small size, moderate cost, and large washingcapacity; the provision of a machine of this character having new andimproved washing expedients; the provision of a two compartment machineof 'the extractor type wherein the compartments can be used eithersimultaneously or successively for either washing, rinsing, bluing orextracting; the provision of a new and improved construction of casinthe provision of new and improved arrangements for rinsing clothing andfor transferring the liquid from and between the different compartments;the provision of new and improved driving devices; while further objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent-as the descriptionproceeds. 20 In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisapplication Fig. 1 is a top plan view and Fig. 2 a front elevation of amachine including my improvements; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewcorresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view corresponding to the line l-t of Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6, 7,and 8 are detail cross sections showing the different positions of thevalve as employed at different times during the washing, etc.operations; and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the valve;Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the friction clutch and automatictension release; Fig. 11 is a section on the line Ii-Il of Fig. 3 butdrawn to reduced scale; Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the containersillustrating the paths traveled by the articles being washed during theoperation of the machine; Fig. 13 is a development of a side elevationalview of the container, also illustrating the paths of the articles beingwashed when viewed from the side of the machine; Fig. 14 is a sideelevational view of one of the containers to illustrate the circulationof the clothes adjacent to the lower half of the blade of the container;and Fig.*15,is a side elevational view of one of the containers,illustrating the circulation of the clothes adjacent to the upper halfof the blade of the container.

The casing of my improvedmachine is pref-l also of sheet metal which istightly solderedior I k e 1 otherwise secured therein thus providing acasing of maximum rigidity and minimum weight containing two similarcompartments 4 and 5 defining the tubs or vats of the machine. Thebottom of the casing consists of a metal sheet 6 5 which rests on a flattopped plate 1' supported by legs 88. Threaded in bosses 9, 9 of thisplate are vertical cylindrical sleeves l0, Ill whose upper ends projecta short distance into the chambers 4, 5 through holes in the sheet 6,said 10 holes being sealed by packed nuts H, II which also constitutelock-nuts for the sleeves. Secured to the upper edge of the wall I is atop plate l2 having a depending flange l3 which closely embraces thewall I and formed with two 15 circular holes it, one for eachcompartment. I have shown the top as surrounded by an upturned flangel5.

Securedto the bottom of the plate 1 is a frame in which the drivingmechanism. is mounted. Journaled in each of the sleeves l0 and steppedin a thrust bearing 2| carried by the frame is a vertical shaft 22 onwhich is slidably splined a toothed pinion 23, and operatively connectedto each pinion is a shifting yoke 24 carried by the rock shaft 25; Handlevers 26, 26 are secured to these rockshafts at the front of themachine, suitable sectors Ll being provided whereby these levers may beheld in different positions. 3

Pivoted on a vertical axis carried by the frame 20 is a double endedsegmental gear or rack 30, operatively connected by a pitman 3i with aworm wheel 32 pivoted to the post 33. Rotatably mounted on the exteriorof each of the 85 sleeves I0 is a spiral gear 34, preferably combinedwith a friction clutch. In its simplest form here shown for illustrativepurposes the lower face of the gear 3d is formed with atapered recess 36receiving a similarly tapered driving member 3'! with the inter-positionof a suitable lining material 38. Projecting from the lower face ofthemember 31 is a-pin 39 adapted to be engaged by a pin 40 carried by theslidable gear 23. The arrangement of parts is such as to bring thepinions 34-35 into the same horizontal plane with the wheel 32, andlocated in this plane isv the shaft M of the driving motor 43, saidshaft being provided with a worm or spiral gear M meshing with the wheel32, and with two spiral gears -45, one for each of the pinions 34-45.Preferably the direction of rotation is so chosen (as shown by thearrows in Figs. 3 and 4) that the tendency of the gears $545 is to raisethe v pinions 84 along their respective sleeves Hi, this on tendencybeing opposed by springs 45' and thrust bearings 41. Accordingly if atany time the retation of the gears 34 is sumciently opposed, theelevation of the same-against the tension of the spring 46 willdisengage the corresponding clutch, and the load is always limited bythe tension of said spring. The gears 45 are duplicates of each otherand are of dissimilar pitch as compared with the gear 44.

Located in each of the compartments 4 and 5 is.a container for theclothing to be washed and centrifuged. Each of these containers consistsof a bottom member 50iormed with a hollow. central boss 5| which isrecessed as shown at 52 to receive loosely the upper end of the sleeve"I and form an air seal thereabout; while the center of said boss isformed with a fluted or otherwise formed socket 53 for the detachable.reception of the similarly fashioned upper end of the shaft 22. Securedto the. outer rim of the bottom 50 is the metallic side wall 54 of thecontainer, which is preferably and generally formed with numerousperforations for the passage of the liquid contents. It will beunderstood that if the side walls are flared the perforations can beomitted as in the case of the extractor container shown in U. S. PatentNo. 1,633,796, issued to C.

G. Sinclair, June 28, 1927. .Provision is also madefor the agitation ofthe clothing and fabrics in the liquid for washing purposes. Suchprovision in the present embodiment consisting of an agitator or dasherin the form of a helical metal blade or vane 55, here shown as runningall the way from the bottom to the top of each container and makingsubstantially a single tum, although this arrangement is not invariable.

If it is desired to have a machine in which the dasher can be operatedindependently of the container, a form of construction may be employed,such as shown in my earlier filed copending application Serial No.694,899, which matured into Patent No. 1,969,176 on August 7, 1934.

Plvoted to the top plate l2 upon a horizontal axis adjacent to the rearof the machine are a pair of circularlids 56-56, one for each of theholes. Eachof these lids is formed with a central, axial, hollow, boss51 in which is journaled the hollow rotatable hub 58 of a circular coverplate 59 whose outer rim is formed with a depending circular flange 60adapted to engage tightly'the upper end of the corresponding container.A suitable bearing sleeve 6! of anti-' friction metal is preferablyemployed between the hub and boss, and the center of the hub isapertured as at 62 for the reception of a hose 63 whereby-rinse water orwashing liquid may be introduced into the machine. Preferably the flange5|! overlaps the exterior of the container 1 so that any metal displacedby wear may not soil the clothing as it is being removed after washing.-

Carried by one end of the-shaft 42 is a pumprotor 65 which is located inapump casing 66 back and forth over the inner edge. of the blade.

a sinkor other receptacle. The pipe 51 is con nected to the dischargeduct Hot a valve casing 13, the side walls of which communicate withthecontainers 4 and 5 respectively by means of conduits 7|4'|5respectively. Rotatably mounted inside the casing 13 is the valve-member15 which is oi turning-plug type, having webs and channels so arrangedthat when located in one position, as shown for example in Fig. 5, bothco-nduits 14 and 75 are cut ofi from the pump and from each other, butarranged so that by turning in one direction or the other as shown inFigs. 6 and 7 either of said compartments can be connected selectivelyto said pump, or by turning still further both compartments can be soconnected for purpose of complete drainage. The valve isoperated bymeans of a suitable handle 11 located above the top plate I2 andconnected to the valve by the vertical shaft-.78. Suitable handles areprovided as shown at 19 for manipulating the lids 56, while suitablenotches 80 formed in the sectors 21 serve to hold the leversheld eitherin mesh with the rack 30 or in engagement with the members 36 or at anintermediate point where they are wholly out of mesh. The parts of saidcontainers and their respective driving mechanisms are preferably madeinterchangeable.

In the operation of my improved washing machine the desired quantity ofwashing liquid is introduced into one or both compartments, eitherbefore or after the introduction of the container, and the articles tobe washed are placed in the containers, the lid closed, and the leversmoved to such position as to cause the pinions 23 to mesh with the rack30 thereby imparting to the containers a vigorous oscillation. Theeffect of the helical dasher is alternately to raise and depress thefabrics, and to raise the liquid and.

dash it thereon.

The procedure followed in the use of this machine is the same as for thegeneral class of washing machines to which this machine belongs and inwhich the clothes are washed through the action of an oscillatableagitator and fluid circulation created thereby.

When a compartment is used for washing purposes, it is preferred tomaintain the liquid level in such compartment at a slight distance fromthe top thereof, and the load of articles being washed should not be sogreat as to prevent the free circulation of such articles during theopera as is customary in washing general type to which this mablade 55may be observed to violently move back and forth in alternately reversecircular directions around the axis of the compartment in step with theoscillations of the machine. At the same time that this is taking place,the clothes adjacent tothe upper portion of the agitator hladereciprocate along spiral paths following I jibe contour of the blade,while the clothes adjacent to the lower portionof the blade swing wardlyand around the container along a spiral path corresponding to theunderside of the blade,

as indicated by the broken line in Figure 12. When the article emergesfrom beneath the blade at the point B, the path is first circularlyaround the container at the upper portion thereof, as in-,

the path swings inwardly. toward theaxis of the container and thenoutwardly thereof as at E, completing one cycle of movement whereuponthe article again follows the path A, B,.C, D and E just described.

In general the articles being washed are freely suspended in the liquidand if the machine is not tooheavily loaded the individual articles willbe observed to be spaced from each other particularly at that part ofthe path adjacent to the lower portion of the blade. Due to this spacingvof the articles, the paths of the individual articles will often varyfrom the particular path described without, however, deviating greatlyfrom the general path which includes for each revolution around the vataxis, an outward movement at E; an upward spiral movement at A; acircular movement at B; a downward and reverse spiral movement at C; andthen an inward and downward movement at D across the edge of the bladewhereupon this cycle of operation repeats itself. The movements from Cto E are all in a generally downward direction. The general movement ofthe articles around'the axis of the vat in one direction hereinafterwill be, referred to as a circulatory movement and the upward circularmovement at A and the downward circular movement at C will be referredto asspiral movements. It is to be understood, of course, thatindividual articles may vary somewhat in their movement from the pathsdescribed and that some of the terms used in describing such movementsand paths are not to be limited to their strict geometrical meaning.

The progress and movement of the articles being washed is caused bytheir receiving accelerations in reverse directions during'thesuccessive movements of the blade which effects a reversal of movementof the articles though to a lesser extent in one direction than theother so that the resultant general movement will be in the directionand along the paths defined. In

H the operation of the machine, the articles are flexed, separated andunfurled, and particularly when in the zone'ofaction of the lowerportion of the blade where they move part-by-part and pieceby-pieceacross the blade edge and are thus individually acted upon by the blade.The articles move more rapidly in those portions of their path which areadjacent to the blade and as one end of a long-article is acted upon bythe lower portion of the blade, the article is sucked or drawn under theblade part-by-part and in this manner a relative separation is effectedbetween this article and the articles adjacent to its end remote from,the blade. The reverse accelerationsjust described, constitute in effecta series of intermittent retardations of the circulation of tact withthe upper side of the blade are accelerated upwardly during theclockwise movement of the blade. During the counterclockwise movement ofthe blade the container contents in contact with the underside of theblade are accelerated downwardly. The actions just described createa'turbulent condition of the liquid in the vicinity of the blade whichit is believed, greatly enhances the washing speed and eniciency of themachine as it serves to keep the articles being washed from tanglingand'wrapping around each other while at the same time a greater relativemovement of washing fluid through the fabric of the articles beingwashed is achieved than would be possible if the articles moved alongtheir paths at an even and constant speed. 1

The blades 55 each extend substantially from the bottom to the top oftheir respective compartments and they are thus effective fromsubstantially the normal surface level of the liquid in the compartmentto the bottom thereof. As the blade 55 is moved back and forth throughthe liquid alternate and reverse accelerations having vertical andhorizontal components are imparted to the liquid. The oppositeaccelerations of the liquid apparently differ in magnitude and appear tobe stronger in one direction. This theory of operation is supported bythe fact that the articles being washed move or progress in onedirection from the top to the bottom portion of the vat and up againwhile at the same time moving or progressing around the vat in onedirection. If the component accelerations or movements were equal andopposite there would Owing to the entrapment of air in the recess 52, noleakage of water can occur from either compartment into either sleeve,nor can oil and grease find its way into the washing liquid. During thetime that both compartments are being employed for the washing operationthe valve is maintained in the position as shown in Fig. 5. As soon asthe washing is finished ineither contalner, as forexample that in thecompartment 4, the corresponding lever 25 is shifted to neutralposition, and the valve shifted to discharging position as shown in Fig.6, whereupon the action of the. pump causes the expulsion of the washingliquid through the hose 69 either into a sink or some receptacle forpreserving or reheating the same. means of the hose 63 connected to asource of water supply, or poured in with pails if desired, after whichthe oscillating motion may be recommenced for a short time; or theoscillation can be allowed to continue during the draining withoutinjury. The rinse water can now be discharged by the proper actuation ofthe valve, after which bluing water can be introduced if desired andlikewise discharged; and after all the desired washing operations havebeen performed the lever 26 can be shifted .to the position causing anengagement between the pins.39 and 40 as shown at the left hand of Fig.3 and the container rotated at high speed to extract the liquidcontents. Some people find it desirable to spray the clothes with waterfrom a hose during this Rinse water can now be introduced by Owing tothe provision of two similar compartments and containers, washing in onecan be accompanied by rinsing and extracting in the 'otherwheneverdesired; or the washing water, bluing water, etc. can be transferredfrom one to the other by introducing the discharge end of the hose 69into the proper aperture 52 and suitably manipulating the valve. By theuse of two small containers 9. large washing can be readily accomplishedwiththe aid of a small compact and easily stored machine which ispeculiarly advantageous to dwellers in flats and apartments; or byintroducing the more soiled articles into one container and those lesssoiled into the other container, the complete operations of washing,rinsing, can be completed in the one during the accomplishment of themore extensive washing in the other so that the time of the effectivelyutilized.

Another convenient procedure is to start washing in one container onlyand later to transfer the washing liquid to the other container by the 2use of the pump and hose; whatever the detail procedure adopted, it willbe seen that it is not necessary to remove the clothing from thecontainer or even to lift one of the lids from the time that the drysoiled garments are originally introduced into the machine until theyare ready to be hung on the line, and that all the operations can beperformed with a minimum amount of liquid and without wetting the hands.

Certain features of the mechanical connec-' tions and gearingconstruction illustrated herein are not claimed in this application, butin 00- pending application Serial No. 694,899, which matured into.Patent No. 1,969,176 on August 7, 1934 and in application Serial No.191,483, filed May. 14, 1927, which matured into Patent No. 1,911,903,on May 30, 1933; and certain features of the casing construction hereinillustrated are reserved for the subject-matter of claims in applicationSerial No. 238,035, filed December 6, 1927, which matured into PatentNo. 1,842,030 on January 19, 1932. Certain features of this applicationare also dominated by claims in copending application Serial No.176,909, filed March 21, 1927, which matured into Patent No. 1,905,912on April 25, 1933.

It will be understood that'm-any other uses and advantages exist, andthat a great manychanges in construction, design and arrangement can bemade without loss of advantage or departure from the scope of myinventive idea, wherefore I do not limit myself in any wise except asspecifically recited in my several claims which I desire may beconstrued independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a laundry machine, an upright casing, an upright containertherein, a lid for said container adapted to overlap the same and engagethe exterior of said container at its upper end, a member pivoted tosaid casing on a horizontal bluing and extracting operator is most axisat one side thereof, said lid being pivoted to said member upon an axisconcentric with for rotating said consaid container, and means tainerand lid about their common axis.

2. In a clothes washing machine, a clothes container journaled on avertical axis, a rotatable driving-element, reciprocating-mechanismoperatively connecting said element to said container for oscillatingsaid container about its axis, and a spiral internal cloth'es engagingblade carried by the side wall of said container, said spiral beingcoaxial with the axis of oscillation.

3. A laundry-machine comprising, iii-combination, an upright shaft,gearing for oscillating-said shaft about its axis, and a container forclothes having provisions for securing it to saidshaftcm,

axial therewith, and having a fixed spiral clothesengaging bladeprojecting inwardly from its side wall also co-axial with said shaft.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a container of greater height thandiameter formed as a surface of revolution about a vertical axis andhaving a spiral clothes engaging blade carried by and projectinginwardly from its side wall throughout substantially its entire height,means for supporting said container with its axis vertical, :2.prime-mover, and gearing operatively connecting said prime-mover andcontainer whereby said container is oscillated about said axis.

5. In a clothes washing machine, a liquid-receiving casing, a. clothescontainer journaled on a. vertical axis in said casing, said containerhaving a spiral clothes-engaging blade carried by and projectinginwardly from the side well thereof,'driving means operatively connectedto said container, said driving means including a mechanism to oscillatethe container to efiect washing and an alternatively operated mechanismto rotate thecontainer to eifect centrifugal ex- 2 traction.'

6. In a laundry machine, a casing having two uprightcompartmentstherein, each compartment having a portion of its externalside wall arcuate in horizontal-section, the side walls of saidcompartments approaching to define an upright dihedral angle,,valve andpump means for transferring liquid from either compartment to the other,and a control device for saidvalvemeans located in one of said dihedralangles.

7. In a; clothes washing machine, in combination, a clothes containerhaving a foraminous

